Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-02

July, but it was near that time an'
the object was the same. Inc
American flag was hoisted, anC
Fremon1s old howitzer thundere'
its salute.
A WESTERN FEAST.
They had feast, too, on ina
memorable occasion. Fremont haC
packed away among his commissar'
stores a fine large fruit-cake' bakeC
by Mrs. Fremont, the daughter o
old Tom Benton. That cake, mad'
in st. Louis, and brought so many
hundreds of miles, was placed OF
the rude banquet table, and Gilpln
when recently speaking of thu
event, says they had ice cream by
getting snow from the mountains
and milking an old hunters goats
Cake and ice cream IN the Rocky
Mountains before the days OF thu
Argonauts or the finding of gold il
the sonds of Cherry Creek.
Fruit cake and ice cream.
1t was the first desert that jim
Baker had eaten in seven years.
Long since Lieutenant MaxweI
died. Kit Carson has crossed that
long and unknown trail that a ian
ter passes but once, and the green
grass of New Mexico wave' over
their humble graves at Ta's' but
Fremont still lives to Srlte the
"reminiscences of those pDneer days
Ex-Governor Gilpin is a familiar
figure on the streets d Denver, ana
old jim Baker still iunts ana traps
and watches his csctle herds in his
mountain home. Time has dealt
kindly with thegreat pathfinder of
the West, and it is wonderful how
they continpe hale and vigorous
when the nany hardships are re-
counted other experience nearly
half a ceitury ago.
FIBsT HARD INDIAN FIGHT.
Ons of Bakers first hard fights
with the indians was on DOnlphan's
march, at the time Of the Mexican
war. He was scouting with Gil
pins part of the command, and
came upon a band of Indians on
the line of the Panhandle. There
was a hot sklrmish, and the arrows
of the savages came thick and fast,
and Baker, with other scouts, was
compelled to fall back. The men
inrenched themselves, but 1t was
two or three days before the In
disns were driven back. There is
now living at Trinidad, or near
there, this state, an old man who
5st both legs in this fight with the
Indians.
1t was the work of Jim Baker as
a scout that saved Albert Sidney
Johnston's army from starvation
in his expedition against the Nor
mons. Secretary Floyd, under
Buchanan's administration, plan
ned a campaign against the Nor
mons, and about three regiments
we're sent out from Fort Leayen-
worth, and on their trip across the
plains dragged along in weary,
broken detachments. When the
first of the command reached Fort
Bridger, the stragglers with the
commissary were cut of by the
MormOns, and their provisions de-
strOyed. Johnston was then sent
out TO take command, but before
he could begin an active campaign
winter had set in Their supply of
provisions was getting small, and
they were afraid to buy from the
Mormons for fear theJ would poi.
son them. Johnston theh despatch
ed Captain Marcy with a detail to
Taos, N. NJ, for provision and
horses, intrusting this command to
Jim Baker as scout and guide.
ON A SNOW. COVERED TRAIL.
1t was a long expedition, full o.
danger, IN mId-winter. Over q
thousand miles of an almost un
known country, covered with deer
snow, was between Johnston anC
the nearest settlement. But whai
if there was snow on the trail
Jim Baker knew the way. On
recent visit to Denver, Baker point
cd out to a friend the spot on th'
Platte where Captain Marcy stop
ped a few days to rest his men,
Part of the city of Denver now GOV
eIs that old camp ground, and Ba
ker could hardly find the place.
But they made the trip in safety
purchasing provisions of Lieuten
ant Maxwell and horses from kl
Carson, expending about slOO'OOC
The return was full OF danger
I
There we're hostile Indians to guar
aeainst on the one side and warllK
Mormons on the other. The wlnte
was severe. and several times ther
was danger of mutiny among Mai
cey's command. 1t was a long an
D l.
perilous march, but Jim Baker
nerve and patience and words {
courage pulled them through, an
Jobnston's command ofabOut thre
thousand men were saved.
THE FIGHT AT ASH HOLLOW.
jim Baker did good work wit
General Harvey at Ash Hollow
and, as the story IS now told in tt
West, it was Baker who discoyere
the whereabouts of the Indians